Autobiography stems

An “autobiography” or “legacy book” is a personal history you write for family members, friends, and sometimes colleagues, hoping to inspire and influence them with the legacy of your personal life and career. At its best, your life story will impart your values and wisdom in a way that inspires, teaches, and leads those who come after you. Rather than a plodding story about when and where you were born, which schools you attended, and what degrees you earned or positions you’ve held, a great legacy book will delve into your dreams and reactions, emotions and personality. Written well, it will reveal not just your triumphs and joys, but your fears and insecurities, failures and foibles. Wrapped in authentic stories, descriptive details, and engaging dialogue, your legacy book can be one of the greatest gifts you ever give to your loved ones, friends, and peers or those you have mentored.

Start by Creating a Life Map

One way to start writing your legacy book is to draw a timeline of important events on a long roll of paper that will become a map of your life journey. Ideally, this paper can remain rolled out in a safe place for you to return to again and again. Create your timeline with large, easy-to-read lettering using a black marker or colored pens to distinguish key moments or turning points over each decade of your life. Jot notes to yourself about how you felt or what you learned from each life episode.

To expand your own view of your life and what’s most notable to others, consider inviting family members, friends, or peers to jot down their own memories of events or interactions they recall having with you. Also, encourage them to write down their feelings or interpretation of those events. What did they learn from you or hear you say? Why did those things matter to them? You don’t have to include everything other people mention on your life map. Just let them know you’re gathering their ideas to h

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the importance of authenticity in autobiographical writing, then apply what has been discovered to the author’s own autobiographical play. Researching for the project involved reviewing various forms of autobiographical writing performed on the stage (including The Normal Heart, a straight play/ non-musical production, a musical, From Foster Care to Fabulous, and a “memory play” The Glass Menagerie). One thing became clear after reviewing these pieces of literature: emotional authenticity, not fact, was the driving force. This stems from the inherent power autobiographical writing possesses to inform audiences on important topics, which allows room for certain embellishments. Autobiographical work does not necessarily require every event within the story to be historically accurate. An important element is emotional authenticity, which allows the audience to connect to a topic that might not relate to them. Upon further research, it was determined for Are You Sure?: Experiences of a Gay Foster Youth to have the political/social impact it required to succeed, there would have to be a focus on the emotional authenticity of the piece.

Copyright

Copyright for this thesis is owned by the author. It may be freely accessed by all users. However, any reuse or reproduction not covered by the exceptions of the Fair Use or Educational Use clauses of U.S. Copyright Law or without permission of the copyright holder may be a violation of federal law. Contact the administrator if you have additional questions.

Recommended Citation

Clein, Zachary A., "Autobiography and Authenticity: Writing Are You Sure?: Experiences of a Gay Foster Youth" (2017). Honors Theses. 532.
https://aquila.usm.edu/honors_theses/532

If you haven't completed the Writing and the College Experience iStudy Tutorial, complete these two activities now to get started thinking about your long-term goals.

Part One- Families, Photos, etc.

Do some reflecting on your family history - think of your family's background as the recipe for how you came to be you or take a look at some memorabilia you have in your room or in your wallet. A photo, artifact, or your family background can serve as a starting point. So, begin with a single photograph or something you saved in a scrapbook. Follow the thoughts these frameworks create for you, and allow those thoughts and associations to guide you. There are many ways to start conceptualizing your story. Think of things to start with that will help connect one part of your life to another and give your autobiography a meaningful context.

For instance, if you select a photograph, think about:

Who is in the picture?
Who took it?
Where it was taken?
How old you were?
How this scene relates to your life now?
What else you remember or think about when you look at this picture?

Invite yourself to question the "normal" or habitual ways that you think, so that you can go beyond the obvious in your autobiography. This way of thinking and creating meaning will help you develop strategies for asking different kinds of questions about the writing, reading, and learning you are doing. Remember, different ways of presenting things and looking at things help you as a writer and as a learner.

After spending some time thinking, write down a list of your ideas.

Part Two- When I Grow Up

Thinking about what will happen when you "grow up" sounds a little childish perhaps, but many adults, even middle-aged adults, still contemplate who they are now and what they want to be when they grow up. One of the most common reasons for attending college is to prepare for, or make a change in, a vocati